HC Deb 05 March 1969 vol 779 cc107-8W
13. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Minister of Technology what consideration he is giving to Capenhurst as a centre for gas centrifuge research.

Mr. Benn

Work on the gas centrifuge is already being carried out at Capenhurst as part of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's research programme. We should have to consider carefully how the best use could be made of the expertise and facilities at Capenhurst in any collaborative venture in which we participated.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Minister of Technology what progress he is making towards collaboration with the Dutch and German Governments on the gas centrifuge process.

Mr. Benn

In reply to a question by the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Dodds-Parker) on 11th December, 1968, I indicated that a further meeting to discuss this was likely this year. A meeting is to take place in London on 11th March between Ministers of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. It will be attended by:

Federal Republic of Germany

  • Dr. Stoltenberg (Minister for Scientific Research).
  • Herr Harkort (Ministerial-Director for Foreign Affairs).

Kingdom of the Netherlands

  • Mr. De Block (Minister of Economic Affairs).
  • Mr. De Koster (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs).

United Kingdom

  • Mr. Wedgwood Benn (Minister of Technology).
  • Mr. Mulley (Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office).

The purpose of the meeting will be to continue discussions begun in The Hague on 25th November, 1968, on the possibilities of establishing collaborative arrangements for the development and exploitation of the gas centrifuge method of uranium enrichment.—[Vol. 775, c. 156–7.]